Chapter 2

2

The day Silas's driver brought me home, I realized the entire villa had been scrubbed of my existence.

My personal belongings on the tables had been replaced with Jade's things.

The framed photos of Silas and me were gone. In their place were artistic shots of Jade dancing or photos of Silas holding her.

"Oh, you're here," Jade's soft voice floated down from the second floor.

I looked up to see her holding my baby. She was standing right outside the master bedroom I used to share with Silas.

"Sorry about this, but the baby cries a lot. I didn't want him to disturb your rest, so I moved your things over there."

She pointed toward a small, cramped room on the first floor near the kitchen. It was the servant's quarters.

Silas walked out of the kitchen right then, shaking a baby bottle.

He gave me a brief, cold glance. "The doctor said you're still coughing. Stay in your room and don't come out unless necessary. I don't want you infecting the baby."

I shook my head instinctively. "My condition isn't contagious. You can ask the doctor."

"Even if it isn't, you've been living on medication for years. Can you guarantee you aren't carrying something else?"

I stood there frozen. I watched him and Jade feed the baby together, their faces lit with tenderness.

"Does that taste good, Jaden? Is Daddy's milk better, or Mommy's?" Silas cooed.

The word "Mommy" made my blood boil. I tried to walk up the stairs, desperate to reach my child.

But after two steps, Jade laughed.

"I'm Jaden's mother now, Silas. Are you really trying to compete with me for his love?"

Silas chuckled. "My mistake. Of course Jaden loves his mommy most."

I stopped in my tracks. I wanted to scream at him.

I was the one who gave birth to him. Even if they put Jade's name on the birth certificate, I was still his mother.

But before I could say a word, a nanny suddenly covered my mouth from behind.

"Elena, Mr. Thorne and Mrs. Thorne are busy with the young master. What do you think you're doing?"

"Get to your room. Stop causing trouble!"

I clawed at the air in panic. Another nanny grabbed my wrist and they dragged me toward the servant's room.

Just before the door slammed, Jade looked up. She flashed me a smile that was pure, cold triumph.

I was locked in that room for an entire day.

Once the nannies were busy elsewhere, I crept out and moved toward the bassinet.

My fingers were just about to touch my son's tiny hand when a scream erupted from above. "Don't touch him!"

The shout woke the baby, and he began to wail. I jumped back in shock.

Jade rushed down and snatched the baby up, stomping her foot in frustration.

"You're still coughing! How could you try to hold him? What if he gets sick!"

Silas hurried out of his study. Seeing the baby crying, he didn't hesitate. He slapped me hard across the face.

"Are you deaf? I told you to stay away from the child!"

"He's fragile. Do you have any idea what your germs could do to him?"

We had been together for eight years. This was the first time he had ever laid a hand on me.

I forced back a cough and glared at him.

"This is my baby!"

"Silas, five years ago when we lost the first one, you promised to protect my right to be a mother!"

The baby's crying grew louder.

Silas's face turned a bruised shade of purple. He grabbed my wrist and dragged me into the study, slamming the door. He slapped me again.

"The child? You have the nerve to bring up the first one?"

"If Jade hadn't told me the truth, I'd still be living in your lie!"

"That baby died in your womb long before you went into the snow. You just used a tragedy to make me feel guilty for the rest of my life!"